[SOLVED] my guvcview records "frozen" video

[ddaupert]

I need to record quite a number of video/audio clips for a project. I've run across posts about guvcview that look very promising, except it does not record video on my equipment. I get audio nicely, but the video file shows only a static image, just like a photo. I CAN record using cheese, so I know the webcam, driver, etc. work, but that app is not optimal.

I installed guvcview version 2.0.2 from the repos using Synaptic Package Manager. I also installed QT V4L2 Test Bench, which tells me (among other things) the webcam driver is uvcvideo.

I'd very much appreciate help with figuring out how to get this working. Please let me know if any other info is needed, or any other useful troubleshooting steps I can make.

Here are some specs:

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fxzd
System:    Host: sndtux Kernel: 4.4.0-104-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.0.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3) Distro: Linux Mint 18 Sarah
Machine:   Mobo: ECS model: Z77H2-A2X v: 1.0 Bios: American Megatrends v: 4.6.5 date: 03/03/2012
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-3770 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 27136
           clock speeds: max: 3900 MHz 1: 1839 MHz 2: 1630 MHz 3: 1975 MHz 4: 1701 MHz 5: 1887 MHz 6: 1743 MHz
           7: 1733 MHz 8: 1707 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1680x1050@59.95hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Desktop GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 001-006
           Card-3 Focusrite-Novation driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 001-007
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-104-generic

[phd21]

Hi ddaupert,

IMHO "guvcview" is one of the very best webcam software packages, but the one from the software repositories has never worked as well for me as the one from their PPA.

Assuming you installed the 3rd party multimedia stuff when asked during the installation of Linux Mint (mint-meta-codecs), have you also installed "ubuntu-restricted-extras", video for linux (v4l) packages, from the Software Manager or Synaptic Package Manager (SPM)? If not, I recommend doing that.

Install "guvcview" webcam and V4L software and try it.
http://linuxdaddy.com/blog/install-guvcview-on-ubuntu/
To install this using the PPA method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one:

Code: Select all

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pj-assis/testing

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install guvcview

Hope this helps ...

[ddaupert]

IMHO "guvcview" is one of the very best webcam software packages, but the one from the software repositories has never worked as well for me as the one from their PPA.

Hello Phd21 --

That was the fix. I removed the install by Synaptic, installed using your suggested commands, and the PPA version does record video. BIG THANKS!

[phd21]

Hi ddaupert,

You are very welcome...

"Guvcview" can record video and audio whereas a lot of webcam software only does video.